John Rosatti, Five Ways to Experience North Carolina?s Fall Color at its
Best
Raleigh, N.C. (Vocus) September 21, 2007 -- Enjoy a feast for all the senses
at fall?s finest vacation spots in North Carolina. View brilliant colors,
listen to the leaves rustle in the wind and get up close and personal with
nature. North Carolina offers spectacular spots to enjoy the fall season.
Visitors can pick their favorite from this list or go to
www.VisitNC.com<http://www.visitnc.com/>for a complete selection of
great places just waiting to be discovered.
1. Leaf Watcher?s Favorite: Great Smoky Mountain Railroad
Board Great Smoky Mountain Railroad for an eye-popping tour across colorful
valleys and river gorges of the Great Smoky Mountains. Choose from a variety
of round trip excursions originating from Dillsboro or Bryson City,
including the popular Mystery Dinner Theatre Train and the Rapid Transit
with the Nantahala Outdoor Center. www.gsmr.com or (800) 872-4681
2. Bike Off the Beaten Trail: Carolina Tailwinds Bicycle Tours
Take less traveled roads while enjoying breathtaking views of beautiful
pastoral scenery dotted with grape vines. Carolina Tailwinds Bicycle Tours
in Winston-Salem offers the perfect mix of the great outdoors, historic
attractions and fine wine. Relax at the charming farmhouse at Hanover Park
Vineyards with its creaking wood floors and homey porch. Walk the
cobblestone streets of historic Old Salem, buy old-fashioned candy at
Rockford?s General Store, stay in an historic inn and test your cycling
mettle on rolling hills with a few challenging climbs along the way.
www.carolinatailwinds.com/winetour.htm or (888) 251-3206
3. Fly Above the Heart of North Carolina?s Wine Country: Yadkin Valley
Balloon Adventures
To enjoy the views at a more leisurely pace, try hot air ballooning. Soar to
thousands of feet watching the colorful landscape unfold from above. Imagine
skimming over a pond or touching the colorful treetops. Yadkin Valley
Balloon Adventures offers flights with certified pilots ready to take you on
an adventure of a lifetime. www.balloonadventure.net or (336) 922-7207
4. Ride the River Wild: Whitewater Rafting on Nantahala River
Over thousands of years, the swift currents of the Nantahala River have
carved an incredible gorge, lush with vegetation, in the mountains of
western North Carolina. Winding eight miles through this gorge, the clear
waters of the Nantahala offer plenty of practice on easy Class II rapids
before culminating in the exciting Class III whitewater of the mighty
Nantahala Falls. The Nantahala Outdoor Center has been leading trips since
1972 and can help make your trip a splash! www.noc.com or (888) 905-7238
5. A Must See: Blue Ridge Parkway
One of the most popular ways to view the changing leaves is by driving the
Blue Ridge Parkway, designated an All-American Road by the Federal Highway
Administration. This is the highest designation bestowed on any road. Before
you go, purchase the Go Blue Ridge Card, a premium attraction pass that
offers fully pre-paid access to 29 top tourist attractions and discounts on
dining and shopping. It also comes with a full color guidebook that includes
maps and describes each of the offers in detail. Also, plan a stop at the
Blue Ridge Parkway Destination Center at Milepost 384 near Asheville,
opening on Oct. 1, 2007. This 12,000-square-foot facility will house
exhibits featuring things to see and do in the region as well as a shop with
books and other items. Plans to celebrate the 75th anniversary of the Blue
Ridge Parkway in 2010 are already underway. Stay tuned for upcoming events
along the Parkway during 2010 to celebrate the building of the Parkway as
well as the history, music and culture of the region. or (828) 271-4779;
or (800) 887-9103; or (336) 721-0260
Bonus -- Local Favorite: The Road to Nowhere Scenic Drive
"The Road To Nowhere", as most local residents call it, is a six-mile scenic
drive into the North Carolina side of the Great Smoky Mountains National
Park where it dead-ends. The drive provides spectacular views of Fontana
Lake and the Appalachian Mountains and was originally named "Lakeview
Drive", but since the road was never completed (as the government promised)
residents, who were forced to leave their homes in order for Fontana Dam to
be built, gave it the name of "The Road To Nowhere."
Natural scenic beauty, adventure and relaxation, a dining experience for
every taste, rich history and warm Southern hospitality come together in
North Carolina. Call 1-800-VISIT NC or go to VisitNC.com to plan your next
getaway.
Contact:
Jennifer Frings, (704) 364-8969
Susan Dosier, (704) 364-8969
Wit Tuttell, (919) 733-7420
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